In a fierce encounter in Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh, at least 28 rebels of the outlawedCommunist Party of India (Maoist) were neutralised, on May 21, 2025. The most important among them was Nambala Kesava Rao alias Basvanna a native of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh.

He became General Secretary of the Maoists after Muppala Lakshmana Raoalias Ganapathy stepped down due to old age. Basavanna was 67 years old. He completed his schooling and Intermediate education in Tekkali, Srikakulam district. The Srikakulam armed peasant uprising of 1967 ran parallel to the Naxal tribal-peasant uprising of 1967.

Kesava Rao joined National Institute of Technology, Warangal, and completed M Tech. He was attracted to Naxal ideology while as a student and became his journey in the Naxal movement through the Radical Students Union like many others such as Patel Sudhakar Reddy and Mallojula Venugopal. Since the past two years the rebels have been suffering severe body blows. Bastar region, Chhattisgarh, especially Narayanpur, Sukma and Kanker all part of the impregnable Abuj Maad, itself a part of Dandakaranya is the fiercest battle zone.

In 2024, the Maoists had lost 287 cadres in fierce gun battles with security forces, including 14 top leaders, while 1,000 cadres, including milita members were arrested. On the other, 800 had surrendered. Elsewhere in Jharkhand, Prayag Manjhi a Central Committee Member has been neutralised. At least 230 Maoist rebels have been killed in 2025, while at least 200 have surrendered. In the past 20 years at least 5,00 Maoists have been killed.

The Maoist Central Committee now consists of a mere five members. Prashant Bose alias Kishanji is a product of the Naxalbari uprising. But he is old. Malla Raji Reddy and Misir Besra are prominent among them. One of them would likely lead the Maoist movement.

Another important leader is Krishna alias Hidma, who is an expert military strategist. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced repeatedly that the Maoists would be wiped out by March 31, 2025. Perhaps, it is mere positioning and it is his duty to say so.

 The Maoists have called for a peace dialogue. The Union government expressed willingness expressed willingness but insisted on unconditional surrender of arms. With the current scenario the Maoists would fight with renewed vigour. Besides, except in tribal inhabited Bastar and the forests of Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha they would not be able to recruit cadres. For the Maoists, it is always one step forward and four steps backward.

 Everyone though that after Amulya Sen and Kanai Chatterjee of Dakshin Desh, the precursor to the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC); Charu Majumdar and Jangal Santhal were neutralised, the Naxalite Movement was written-off. But, some years later, Prashant Bose and others in North and Kondapalli Seetaramaiah in South engaged the security forces in bloody gun battles. Though area-wise seizure of power they occupied large tracts in Bengal – West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia; Gaya, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Khunti, Saraikela, East Singhbum – Jharkahnd. Sundargarh, Chandauli and Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh; Gadchiroli,

 Bhandara, Satna Bhandara, in Maharashtra; Balaghat, etc in Madhya Pradesh; Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, Nalgonda, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Prakasam, East Godavari, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam – Andhra Pradesh. Koraput, Malkangiri, Nayagarh, Gajapati and Ganjam -- Odisha. The entire Bastar region which now comprises seven districts, in Chhattisgarh .

Between 1998 and 2004 they lost ground in North Telangana and Andhra-Odisha border. Thereafter the Maoists retreated into Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. In 2004, the Maoist Communist Centre of India and the Communist Part of India—Marxist-Leninist merged realising strength lies in unity. But they gradually lost ground and several important leaders, including Kondappali Seetaramaiah and Jinugu Narasimha Reddy and Lanka Papi Reddy surrendered either due to old age or realising the futility of armed struggle.

The Maoists are now located largely in Bastar. Their cadres have been annihilated and it is continuing. The various State governments have put in place a persuading surrender and rehabilitation policy and have initiated various development projects. Further, a thoughtful skill development programme has been initiated across the country to wean away the youth from taking to crime or joining Naxalite-terrorist groups. However, these have hardly reached the needy youth.

In spite of all these good initiatives, the hardcore among the Maoists would not be deterred. The same would repeat again. They will fall and rise like the phoenix. It shall take time. It is hard to predict how many years it would take. But it is certain. However, it is better to give the Maoists a chance and help them join the mainstream and allow then to contest democratic, parliamentary elections. The Nepalese Maoists and the Janata Vimukti Peramuna of Sri Lanka stand out as living examples in this regard.

 (Dr P V Ramana; Internal security expert.)